I love a parade

... except when it kicks off outside my bedroom window at 7:30 on a Sunday morning. 

Yesterday morning we were treated to the lovely sound of a marching band opening the festivities for the local schützenverein's festival.  What is a schützenverein? Think the Loyal Order of Water Buffaloes complete with uniforms and funny traditional hats, but add some guns to the festivities.  Seriously, check it out here.

We wandered over to the fest later in the day.  They had bumper cars and a carousel for the kids, a couple of carnival midway games, a booth selling candy and another selling food.  And they had a monstrous beer tent set up where most of the festivities must have taken place earlier.  And by festivities I mean drinking.  We didn't observe too many adults walking in straight lines as we sat and enjoyed a bratwurst and kölsch.

It is good to know that these are the people who are allowed to have guns in this country.  That target competition must have been a sight to see.